Prologue
Levy, Tx. was inhabited by a colorful and proud assortment of ranchers, business owners, outlaws, church goers and everyone else required to make a fledgling town thrive. High school sweethearts Belle Crawford and Johnny Ray Dowd were among them. According to Johnny’s mother Cornelia, the two were destined to marry and give her beautiful little chocolate grandbabies. Belle lived a predictable life in an unpredictable town. Lula Harper felt life had chewed her like a piece of cud for the past few years. Her marriage to Henry seemed solid to others, but to Lula, it was as stale as month old bread. Henry’s behavior grew stranger by the day and for some reason, she didn’t seem to care. Lula had her hair salon to keep her occupied and was considering opening a restaurant. Lula loved being a businesswoman. That wasn’t the only thing she loved. Lula hid a secret desire deep within that she shared with no one. Henry’s passion, however, was something different altogether, and it wasn’t even close to being his wife.
Henry Banks’ trips to New Orleans became more frequent as of late. The desire to satisfy his peculiar habit was increasingly urgent. If Lula had an inkling as to what her husband indulged in, she would have a surefire solution to her secret and complicated love life. Lula’s wasn’t the only love triangle in Levy. Maurice Lathan, Esq. had his sights set on Belle Crawford from the first day she came into his employ. His infatuation with her was a complete breech of ethics. That didn’t deter Maurice one bit. He was, after all a very successful attorney in Levy. Maurice feared nothing and no one. Johnny Ray was a mere technicality. If he had to dispose of Johnny to get closer to Belle, he would. Little did Maurice know that Johnny wasn’t his only problem. Once Lula’s nephew Simon Blair blew into town, Maurice’s task of winning Belle was made even more difficult than he imagined. Only one man could keep order in this somewhat wild and unusual town. That man was Sheriff Jim King. “Big Jim” as he was affectionately known, had wanted to be a lawman as long as he could remember. He kept the citizens of Levy in line for the most part. Every now and again, he would have to shoot someone for getting out of order. Killing was a last resort, as Big Jim relied upon his heft and the threat of the Colt 45 planted firmly on his hip.
A developing town, Levy attracted businessmen from all over. Greed seduced them into getting their hands on any and everything Levy had to offer. Oil, cattle, and undeveloped land were coveted with a white hot intensity. The Culpepper brothers were a pair of corrupt oil barons from Dallas. The two routinely trekked into town in attempts to strong arm established citizens to sell land rich with resources. Most gave in willingly. Some had to be convinced “The Culpepper Way”. This was Texas, after all. Everything was bigger and better, albeit not necessarily easier. That would prove true, time and again, one fateful summer in Levy, Texas.
